A CITY councillor stripped of the Labour whip amid bullying allegations has switched to join the Liberal Democrats.

A CITY councillor stripped of the Labour whip amid bullying allegations has switched to join the Liberal Democrats.

The Birmingham Mail revealed last Thursday how Ann Holtom was in talks with the Lib Dems after being disciplined over her treatment of fellow Tyburn councillor Lynda Clinton.

She claimed Labour bosses ran a smear campaign against her and wrote a scathing letter condemning party officials for being "dictatorial" and imposing candidates against the will of grass roots members.

Coun Holtom also criticised former Labour council leader Sir Albert Bore for presiding over housing and social services departments which "were a national disgrace".

A Labour insider branded her letter a "resignation notice in all but name".

Coun Holtom, who has represented Tyburn for four years, is the ninth councillor Labour has lost since the 2004 local elections.

Six councillors for Aston and Bordesley Green were sacked in the wake of a probe into postal vote fraud.

Coun Margaret Wells (Stockland Green) was kicked out after she moved to Northumberland and Handsworth Wood councillor Arjan Singh defected to the Tories in October.